Still playing catch-up on posts

Christmas card pictures and Ice storm 2013

 For the last few years I have gotten Christmas cards done at Target. However, last year was an awful experience and I have not been back since. My good friend was going to take some for us, however we had Iceagedon (as it was called) on that weekend. I was going to try and get some pictures in Houston over Thanksgiving but the kids were less than cooperative.

Dan attempted to snap some keepers on a day I was at work and he did a great job!

The above picture is the 1  Iput on our Christmas card.

Below are some of the out-takes to get just 1 good picture!

Trying to get both of them to look at the camera and smile (at the same time..gasp..what a concept), is like herding cats!

 Both are looking, just not smiling...scratch.

 

  Nathan was trying to give sister a hug and they were both smiling, but no lookie!

 

 

 Umm..."daddy, why can't we just play in the leaves instead having our picture taken?

 

 

 ON the 1st weekend in December we had an Ice storm blow through and it shut the city down (I know, us Texans!). IT was actually kinda nuts. I had gone grocery shopping on Thursday (not in preparation fo storm, just normal shopping) and the stores were packed with people. There was literally NO milk,meat and limited bread!! I mean, come on people, it's not like you are going to be trapped for a month.

The storm blew threw on Friday and the roads were pretty dicey. I had to drive into work on Saturday and nothing was sanded which stunk and other drivers were slamming on their brakes and either driving way too slow or fast! My normal 20ish minute commute took 45!

We went to church on Sunday but it had been canceled. They were just going to live-stream the service. It actually was a wonderful experience. There were less than 100 people (as opposes to thousands) and we talked to the pastor for several minutes (hey, big deal in a large church!) The service was very personable as was the music. Oh how I wish we could find something like that for every Sunday. It was the music minster with his guitar and 4 other singers, it was beautiful. Of course there was no Nursery, so the kids sat with us. They both were motionless during the music, then sister got fidgety and had to be removed, but Nathan sat in Dan's lap for the whole service!

We ventured to the grocery store that evening and they stores were wiped out. I am not exaggerating, there was NO meat products, milk, cheese, eggs, produce, veggies or bread. It looked like people were preparing for the end of the world!

Needless to say we enjoyed some fun outdoor time playing in the ice. Nathan loved to "ice-skate" in the backyard while sister fell every other step she took. And of course we had to eat some icicles! Never mind that they were from the dirty gutter!

 Since we don't have more than a day or 2 of ice/snow a year in Texas it is pointless to have a bunch of snow toys, so we made do with a laundry basket!

 Nathan's favorite part of winter is getting to help daddy start a fire in the fireplace. When he wakes up in the morning, and you have told him the night before about helping, the first thing he says is "help daddy build fire in fireplace?"! He gets to carry the wood in like a big boy. Fire, trucks, planes, mickey and helicopters..that's what my boy loves!

 Of course, since brother was carrying a log, sister had to as well! She loves her brother and just wants ot be doing whatever he is doing!

 

Don't worry the ice melted over the next few days and the stores were re-stocked with essentials!